Guardians Bring Back Reliever Kolby Allard on Minor League Deal

The 28-year-old left-hander will join the Triple-A Columbus Clippers roster after struggling in the majors this season.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 5:26pm

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A cubist-style painting depicting a baseball pitcher's motion broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes in the Guardians' team colors of navy blue, red, and white, conveying the fractured nature of Allard's journey back to the major leagues.The Guardians' decision to give Kolby Allard another chance in the minors reflects their belief in the pitcher's potential, despite his recent struggles.Columbus Today

The Cleveland Guardians have re-signed left-handed reliever Kolby Allard to a minor league deal, giving the 28-year-old another opportunity to develop within the organization. Allard was designated for assignment earlier this month after posting a 10.38 ERA in four appearances with the big-league club to start the 2026 season.

Why it matters

Allard has struggled to find consistent form in his nine-year MLB career, with a career ERA of 5.47 and WHIP of 1.418. The Guardians see potential in the young pitcher and are willing to give him another chance to prove himself at the Triple-A level.

The details

After being designated for assignment, Allard elected free agency on April 17. The Guardians then re-signed him to a minor league deal the following day, allowing him to join the roster of their Triple-A affiliate, the Columbus Clippers. This move provides Allard a chance to work on his development and potentially earn his way back to the major league club.

  • Allard was designated for assignment by the Guardians on April 17, 2026.
  • The Guardians re-signed Allard to a minor league deal on April 18, 2026.

The players

Kolby Allard

A 28-year-old left-handed reliever who has struggled to find consistent form in his nine-year MLB career, with a 5.47 ERA and 1.418 WHIP.

Tanner Bibee

A Guardians starting pitcher who struggled in a recent outing against the Atlanta Braves, giving up 11 hits, 8 earned runs, and 1 walk in 5 innings.

Austin Hedges

A veteran Guardians catcher who was used as a position player pitcher in the blowout loss to the Braves.

Hunter Gaddis

A Guardians pitcher who was on the injured list, leading to Allard's initial call-up to the major league roster.

Cleveland Guardians

The MLB team that has re-signed Kolby Allard to a minor league deal, giving him another chance to develop within their organization.

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What’s next

Allard will join the Triple-A Columbus Clippers roster and look to regain his form in the minor leagues, with the goal of potentially earning another call-up to the major league Guardians roster.

The takeaway

The Guardians' decision to re-sign Kolby Allard to a minor league deal demonstrates their belief in the 28-year-old's potential, despite his struggles at the MLB level. This move provides Allard with a chance to continue developing and potentially work his way back to the big leagues, where he will look to find the consistency that has eluded him throughout his career.